In celebration of its bicentennial, Pittsburgh will come alive with a series of events in 2016. Whether living in Pittsburgh or planning to visit, you will have multiple opportunities to enjoy these celebrations. For the entire 2016 year, the goal is to highlight all the incredible achievements and milestones reached.
As a solider from the American Revolutionary War, Ebenezer Denny was appointed the first Mayor of Pittsburgh, serving from 1816 to 1817. In honor of him, as well as his successors and noted city accomplishments, the current mayor, Bill Peduto, along with CEO/President of Senator John Heinz History Center, Andy Masich, are finalizing celebratory details.
Peduto will announce these details for the yearlong events in the lobby of the City County Building at 10:00 am on January 6. He will also address ways of recognizing the historical bicentennial. To bring everything to fruition, more than 200 volunteer organizations are working and will continue to work to ensure that this bicentennial is memorable.
Unlike the 2008 celebration of the 1758 founding of Fort Pitt, Mayor Peduto emphasizes that the 200th anniversary in 2016 is in honor of the creation of Pittsburgh. For the city, as well as region and the entire world, this is the perfect time to showcase the city’s legacy, rich history, and promising future.
The mayor will disclose five signature events. The first is scheduled for March 18, and will be followed by an array of other festivities. On July 9, 2016, former Pittsburgh mayors will be feted with a parade comprised of representatives from local schools, arts groups, community organizers, and descendants of the previous mayors. After the parade makes its way from downtown to Point State Park, you can enjoy a wonderful festival.
From November 16 through 19, a gathering is scheduled for the National League of Cities, which is the largest conference of city officials and mayors. These distinguished guests will be welcomed during the 2016 Light Up Night. To close out the year of events, First Night Pittsburgh is scheduled for December 31, 2016.
Additional Interesting Things to Do
Beyond the upcoming bicentennial events, Pittsburgh offers many wonderful attractions. The National Aviary features more than 600 of the most gorgeous and interesting birds in the world, on display in natural, walk-through habitats. You can also visit the Andy Warhol Museum. Of all the single-artist museums in the world, this is by far the most comprehensive, with over 4,000 pieces of art, including prints, films, photographs, videos, drawings, and paintings. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Andy Warhol is very much a part of the city’s legacy.
Convenient and Comfortable Transportation
To get around to the different events scheduled for the 2016 bicentennial celebration, as well as taking in additional sights in the city, a Pittsburgh limo service is the best mode of ground transportation.
